Ballast water convention inches closer to reality

IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee 67th Session in London

OCTOBER 14, 2014—The Ballast Water Convention (BWM) 2004 inched closer to entry into force, after Turkey became the latest country to ratify the convention.  With Turkey’s assent combined with Japan’s on October 10, there are now 43 countries, representing about 32.54% of world merchant shipping tonnage that have ratified the convention.

In order for the convention to enter into force, contracting states representing 35% of the world merchant shipping tonnage have to ratify the convention, which addresses the problem of invasive species being transported around the world in ships’ ballast water.

Turkey’s instrument of accession was presented by His Excellency Abdurrahman Bilgiç, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Turkey to IMO, to IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu during the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 67) session.

On October 10, Japan’s ratification was presented by Noriyoshi Yamagami, Minister, Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO and Yasu Onishi, Alternate Permanent Representative of Japan to IMO.

Besides ballast water, MEPC 67^th session is also addressing the Polar Code, air pollution and energy efficiency. It runs until October 17 at IMO’s London Headquarters.